Automatic pump control for boiler feed.



W. L. FOSTER.

AUTOMATIC PUMP CONTROL FOR BOILER FEED.

APPLICATION men JUNE 16, 1917.

Patented JunelS, 1918.

Inven for; Walter L Enter,

a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER I. FOSTER, OF WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC PUMP CONTROL FOR BOILER FEED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1918.

Application filed June 16, 1917. Serial No. 175,085.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER L. FOSTER, residing at Whittier, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented "new and useful Improvements in Automatic Pump Controls for Boiler Feed, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a mechanism for controlling the supply of feed water to a boiler Or the like, and pertains particularly to'mechanism. for regulating a feed water pump.

My improved mechanism is operated by the change of v'ater level for controlling the steam or motive fluid of a pump. It is an object of my invention to provide a mechanism, which ispositivein operation, will not stick, and is sensitive to changes in the a water level. It is a further object to proboiler A vide a structure which can be connected to the ordinary boiler and feed water pump Without changes therein. It is a still further" object to provide a mechanism which will'not detract from the operation of the boiler and pump at the highest efficiency.

1 accomplish these objects by means of the embodiments of my invention illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which Figure lisa front elevation of a boiler with my regulator applied thereto, the boiler being shown in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the regul-a-tor. Fig. 3 is a view of the regulator steam pipes with a modified form of steam valve, a portion of the steam pipe being shown broken away, the valve being shown in section.

"Referring more particularly to the drawing and especially to Fig. 1, A indicates a 'fire tube boiler and B the regulator. The is shown provided with a steam dome 4.

The regulator B is connected to the steam dome by means of piping indicated generally by 7 and to the boiler below the water" level by piping 6. The equalizing chamber '5 is'cylindrical in form and has the lower head preferably formed integral therewith. A flange 8 is secured to the upper end of the equalizing chamber and is provided with bolt holes which register with bolt holes in a removable head 9, bolts 10 securing the head in position. A nipple 11 is formed on the head 9, and secured to the nipple is a section of p'pe 12. Secured to the pipe section 12 is an elbow. 14.

The elbow 14 is preferably of special con struction, and has one long arm. At the ends of the elbow are wrench holds 15 and 16. The remainder of the piping 7 is of any well known form comprising elbows, pipe section, etc.

Formed in the elbow 14 is a nipple 17 for connection to the steam piping of the feed pump. The boiler feed pump piping is indicated by 18, and interposed between the nipple 17 and the piping 18 is a valve casing 19. A stem 20 is engaged by means of thread with the valve casing so that it may be moved up or down. The stem 20 extends through the nipple 17. The upper end of stem 20 is provided with a convenient hand hold 21 for operation of the stem in adjusting the position of the same.

Disposed within the elbow 1 1 is a post 22 which is preferably removably secured to the elbow. Pivotally secured to the post 22 is a lever 23. Pivotally secured to the end of lever 23 is a connecting rod 24. which carries a bucket float 25 at its lower end. Socured to the under face of lever 23 is a leaf spring 26, which bears at its free end against the elbow 14, and tends to move the lever 23 upwardly. Pivotally secured to the lever 26 between its ends is a valve 27. Within the nipple 17 is a removable seat 28 for the valve 27. The valve 27 has a bore formed therein in which is slid-ably disposed the valve stem 20, whereby the valve is guided in a straight line in its movement and also limited as to its closed position.

The bucket float 25 is open at the top, so that it may be filled with water. When the bucket 25 is entirely submerged in the water, its weight is comparatively small and the leaf spring 26 will raise the lever 23 so that the valve 27 may be closed as far as the stem 20 will permit. As soon as the water level drops so that part of the bucket is above the water, the added weight becomes so great that the tension of spring 26 is overcome and the bucket float is moved down wardly, thereby moving the valve 27 from its closed position and admitting more steam to the feed pump.

In order to provide for convenient aS- sembling and disassembling of the lever mechanism, I have provided a threaded aperture in the elbow 14 which is closed by plug 29. Plug 29 has a threaded bore in which is disposed the pipe of a steam gage 30. Plugs 31 and 32, as indicated in Fig. 3,

that as'much withdrawn from the boiler,

may be provided to make more convenient the assembling and disassembling of the lever mechanism,the' plugs being isposed at the pivot points of lever 23.

Ret'erring particularly to shown a modified form of valve.

Fig. 3, I have closed-position, I do not mean that the valve 27 is necessarily entirely closed, but that it is in suchposition that it cannot move farther toward its seat by reason of-the'limiting stem 20. The level of the wat'erjin the equalizing chamber, which is the same as that in the boiler, may be noted from the waterglass-3 l. The stem 20 is adjusted so steam will flow when the valve is in its closed position as will be necessary to keep the pump from entirely stopping. If desired, the stem may be moved. so that the pump will stop operating. Asrsteam is the water level falls,-a portion of bucket 25 is exposed and a pull upon rod 24: results; the tension of spring 26 is overcome and valve 27 is opened admitting a greater amount of steam to the piping 18 and'to the boiler feed pump. This speeds up-the pump and more feed water is supplied to the boiler. As soon asthe bucket 25 is again submerged the pressure upon spring 26- isrelieved and the lever 23 is raised bringingthe'valve 27 to closed position, and reducing the amount of steam supplied to the feed pump.

It will be noticed that because of the bucket construction, the pressure which is exerted by reason ofa fall of the water level is relatively great. This' makes the device very sensitive. There is no changein the weight of the float 25, as there would be in the case of a wooden float which is porous andbecomes" filled with water, or a float having a hollow chamber which eventually. becomes-filled with water. The obstruction to the flow of steam to the feed pump is made as small aspossible. Proper proportioning of Mounted upon the lever 23' is" a valve 33 havingv a in said pipe,.a

rand-tendingto hold said valve closed, and a.

the lever arms and weights of the several parts of the regulator produces a regulation which is very sensitive.

It will be noted that the bucket 25- is in such position that it'is kept full of water at all times. The condensation from the steam pipe, whose connection to the'equalizing cha mber is immediately above the bucket, falls into the bu"ket and keeps the same full.

What I claim is':-

1.-.A regulator for pumps .comprising an equalizing chamber having. a-steam connectionand a water connection, said steam co'nnection comprising. a pipe having a port in; the'wall thereof communicating with a steam" pump, a valve controlling said port, a lever for operating said valve detachably mounted spring secured to said lever bucket float in said; equalizing chamber connected to said lever and tending to open-said valve. c v

'2. A regulator for pumps comprisingan equalizin achamher having. a steam connection, an a water connection,- said' steam connection comprising. a pipe havingfa port in the wall thereof communicating, with a steam pump, a valve eontrollingu said port, a lever for operating. said valve detachahly mounted in said pipe,.a spring,secured to said lever and tending to -llOld-' said valve closed,.a bucket. floatin: said equalizing chamber connected to said lever and tending to hold said valve open,-said bucket being dis-.' posed with its openingbelow said steam connection.

3. A regulator for pumps comprisingv an equalizing chamber havinga steam connection, and a Water connection, said steam connection comprising a pipe having a port. in the wall thereofcommunicating with a steam pump, a valve" controlling said port, a lever for operating said valve detachably mounted .in said pipe, lever and tending to-hold said valve closed, and a bucket float in said equalizing chamberconnectedto said lever and tending to open said valve, said bucket float disposed with its openingbelow said steamconnect1on.

In witness that I claim the foregoing, I 105 have hereunto subscribed my name, this 11th day of J'une,.19l7. H WALTERL. FOSTER.

Gopleaof this patent may be obtained rotate cents eaoh, by:addresslngthe.ff conirnlssioner at; I'a'tcnta,

' Washington; D. G.

a spring secured to said;- 

